(Salem, OR) – Willamette Humane Society (WHS) announces the 30,000th surgery performed in its spay & neuter clinic since opening in 2010. The milestone surgery was performed by Dr. Megan Strahon on Friday, April 29, 2016. The neuter recipient is a senior Rat Terrier mix named Elroy.

Elroy is a fourteen-year-old Rat Terrier mix with a remarkable story. He came to Willamette Humane Society emaciated and abandoned. He’s a senior pet who was formerly used for breeding, but whose health declined after being rehomed. Elroy has an excellent temperament. Prior to adoption, he needed a dental cleaning, tooth extractions, and bloodwork to determine the cause of his dramatic weight-loss. Despite his age and health issues, Elroy will make a loving pet for many years to come.

Thanks to donations from the community, Willamette Humane Society purchased a blood analyzer machine and a dental unit earlier this year. This specialized equipment is a game-changer for pets like Elroy. His medical treatments were performed right at the shelter, lowering the cost of his care. His dental cleaning and extractions were performed after his neuter surgery while under anesthesia. Without the clinic, its specialized equipment, and the means to treat Elroy, his health, age, and cost of treatment may have been considered grounds for humane euthanasia.

In 2014-2015, Willamette Humane Society saved 90.4 percent of dogs, and 76.5 percent of cats in our care. Elroy represents the at-risk population of pets saved through the support of this community. He’s an example of how more animals are now being saved. In the past, senior pets like Elroy with multiple health conditions were sometimes considered unhealthy and untreatable due to a lack of resources. Now, pets like Elroy are finding new forever homes. In fact, his adoption was finalized the day after the procedure.

Willamette Humane Society Spay & Neuter Clinic began operations in January 2010 to reduce the pet overpopulation by offering low cost, high quality spay and neuter surgeries to cats and dogs in the community. Thanks to a generous grant from PetSmart Charities, the clinic provides free surgeries for owned and stray cats residing in zip code 97301, which is where the majority of kittens brought to the shelter originate. The clinic also spays and neuters all pets in the shelter prior to adoption, and provides surgeries for dogs owned by low-income families receiving forms of government income assistance.

The WHS clinic was voted Gold for Best Veterinarian in the Statesman Journal’s 2014 and 2015 Best of the Mid-Valley Poll, and Bronze in 2016.

Learn more about the Willamette Humane Society Spay & Neuter Clinic’s services and fees at whs4pets.org/clinic.

Willamette Humane Society (WHS) was founded in 1965 by local civic leaders to serve Marion and Polk counties, Oregon. In 2014-2015, Willamette Humane Society provided compassionate services to 8,255 pets and 65,417 people. WHS provides pet adoption services, shelters surrendered or homeless cats and dogs, teaches responsible pet care, behavior and training — and reduces pet over-population through its low-cost Spay and Neuter Clinic. WHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that relies on donor support and fees to accomplish its mission. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and includes a 35 FTE member staff, and 1,100 volunteers. For more information about Willamette Humane Society, visit whs4pets.org.